Pneumatic dispatch tube



M. L. EMERSON PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE March 20, 1934.

Filed Nov. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 20, 1934. M EMERSON 1,951,820

PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE Filed Nov. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jill #22 liar March 20, 1934. M, 1 EMERSON 1,951,820

PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE Filed Nov. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 20, I934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQ PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE Application November 14, 1930, Serial No. 495,566

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a pneumatic dispatch system particularly adapted for use in general oifice communications and has for its object to provide a dispatch system by which may be transmitted sales, order, and credit slips, memoranda, telegrams, and such other similar articles of light weight as are commonly used in inter-department communication in general offlees, banks, telephone exchanges, department stores, etc. It another object of this invention to provide suitable carriers for such articles as well as terminal facilities for the reception and dispatch of the carriers. Further objects and advantages will be apparent as attributes of the construction and operation or" the system hereinafter shown and described.

One desirable embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective View of a simple pneumatic system;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a central station receiving terminal;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an outstation receiving and dispatch terminal;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one type of carrier;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second type of carrier provided with a message clip; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third type of carrier provided with a message tray.

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows one embodiment of the present invention, the dispatch system comprises delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section, indicated by numerals 1 and 2 respectively, connecting a central station terminal 3 with an outstation terminal 4, each of the terminals being substantially air-tight and conveniently located on desks or tables 5 and 5 A tube 6, here shown to be of rectangular cross section but which may be of any suitable size and cross section, connects the central terminal 3 with an exhaust pump '7 or other equivalent means capable of producing an air current in the tubes.

The central station end of the dispatch tube 1 comprises a flaring throat 1 for the reception of a carrier and is located externally of and, for convenience, adjacent the terminal 3. By means of the pump 7 a suction is produced in the tube 6 which constantly exhausts air from the terminal 3 and thus creates and maintains a continuous air current in the dispatch tube 1, entering at the throat 1 and traveling to the terminal 4, and thence through the delivery tube 2 to the terminal 3. By means of the air current thus produced, carriers can be transported from one terminal to another.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred construction of a central station receiving terminal which comprises a substantially air-tight cabinet or box-like chamber 8 into which carriers are delivered. The cabinet 8 is preferably rectangular, but may be of any suitable form and capacity as convenience may require, and may be constructed of metal or other suitable material to harmonize with the surroundings. At one end of the cabinet is an opening provided with a door 9 permitting ready access to the interior of the cabinet. The door 9 is preferably mounted on a pintle 10 disposed in brackets 11 adjacent the bottom of the opening. The door has a tight or close fit about the opening and is normally held in closed position by means of the spring 12, and thus prevents any substantial leakage of air into the interior of the cabinet. Preferably a transparent window 16 is disposed in one of the sides of the cabinet or elsewhere as convenience may require.

At the top of the cabinet adjacent the end opposite the door 9 is a rectangular inlet port 13 suitable for the reception of the delivery tube 2, and at the bottom of the cabinet adjacent the same end is an outlet port 14 for the reception of the suction tube 6. Both the tubes 2 and 6 fit tightly within their respective ports to prevent any substantial leakage of air from the outside to the interior of the cabinet.

A curved shield or guide 15, preferably per forated, is disposed within the cabinet with one end interjacent the inlet port 13 and the extreme end of the top of the cabinet opposite the door, and its other end engaging the bottom of the cabinet approximately midway between its ends, as shown in Fig. 2. The shield 15 serves not only as a deflector which will engage arriving carriers 26 and guide them downwardly toward the door, but also as a protection against obstruction of the outlet port 14 by the arriving carriers and the consequent interruption of the flow of air in the tubes.

The outstation receiving and dispatch terminal 4, shown in Fig. 3, may be of the same size and construction as the central station terminal 3 and is similar thereto in that it comprises a substantially air-tight cabinet 18 having an opening at one end provided with a tight fitting door 19 mounted on pintle 20 disposed in brackets 21 adjacent the bottom of the opening and normally held in closed position by means of the spring 22.

A rectangular inlet port 23 for the reception of the delivery tube 1 is disposed on the bottom oi the cabinet adjacent the end opposite the door and a rectangular outlet port 24, disposed on the bottom of the cabinet adjacent the opening receives the dispatch tube 2. A curved shield 25 disposed with one end interjacent the port 23 and the extreme end of the bottom of the cabinet opposite the door extends upwardly toward and preferably engages the top of the cabinet adjacent the opening therein. One or both side walls may include a transparent window 26.

On the inner surface of the door 19 is a support from which depends a curved guide 27 which comprises a U-shaped piece of wire with ends looped to define a hinge-like connection with a pintle carried by the support, which construction permits a free swinging movement of the guide about the pintle as an axis. With the door 19 closed, the guide 27 will drop downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3 with its closed end resting on the bottom of the cabinet between the port 24 and a point midway between the ends or" the cabinet. The guide 2'7 thus serves as a shield for port 24 and will prevent accidental dispatch of arriving carriers as well as obstruction of the port. An upwardly projecting shield or stop 28 is disposed on the bottom of the cabinet adjacent the port 23 and on the opposite side thereof from the shield 25.

In the use of this terminal an arriving carrier 20 enters the chamber through the delivery port 23 and is deflected by the guide 25 toward the door 19 and then by the guide 27 to the bottom of the chamber where its movement is arrested by the stop 28. In dispatching carriers the door 19 is opened and the guide 27 is swung back out of the way. The carrier is then inserted through the port 2% into the dispatch tube 2 through which it is carried and delivered to the terminal 3 by the air current.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show various types of carriers particularly adapted for the transmission of slips, memoranda, telegrams, etc., in a pneumatic dispatch system of the type herein described.

Fig. 4 shows a carrier having a body portion comprising an envelope 30, to the open end of which is secured a projection or wing which comprises square or rectangular piece of fiber board folded upon itself along the line perpendicular to one of its sides to define the lip 32 and flap 33. Preferably the free end of the flap 33 is turned in toward the lip 32 of the envelope, as indicated by numeral 34, to provide a reinforcement.

Fig. 5 shows a carrier comprising a rectangular piece of suitable fiber board folded near one end to define propelling flap 33*, and a body portion 30 which carries a clip 35 adapted to hold securely papers, etc., to be dispatched. In order to give flexibility to the forward end of the carrier when traveling around bends, the body portion adjacent to the flap is provided with a crease or scoring 36 parallel to its end.

Fig. 6 shows another type of carrier comprising a rectangular head 31 made of felt or other suitable material to which is secured a body portion comprising a rectangular tray 30*, and a propelling flap 33 having a free swinging movement about its junction with the head 31 as an axis.

The width of the body portion of each of the carriers is slightly less than that of the tubes, and the length of the propelling flap is substantially greater than that of the depth of the tubes.

In each of the embodiments shown, the propelling flap has a free swinging movement about the junction of its end and the body portion of the carrier. When the carrier is inserted in the de livery tube, as shown in Fig. 1, due to the propulsive force of the air current, the free end of the flap will swing and impinge one end of the tube and cause the under side of the body portion of the carrier to engage the opposite wall and thus be carried through the tube to the terminal.

While I have shown and described certain desirable embodiments of this invention, I wish it to be understood that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

i claim:

1. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a substantially air-tight chamber having a normally closed door providing access to the chamber, said chamber having a rectangular inlet port for the reception of the delivery tube and an outlet port permitting emission of the air current from said chamber, and a perforated curved shield within said chamber having one end adjacent to said inlet port, said shield being adapted to engage and deflect arriving carriers away from said outlet port thereby preventing obstruction of said outlet port and air being drawn through the perforations in the shield to the outlet port.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a substantially air-tight chamber having a transparent portion and a normally closed door providing access to said chamber, said chamber having a rectangular inlet port for the reception of the delivery tube and an outlet port permitting emission of the air current from said chamber, a perforated shield within said chamber having one end adjacent to said inlet port, said shield being adapted to engage and deflect arriving carriers away from said outlet port thereby preventing interference with the emission of the air current through said outlet port.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a terminal comprising a cabinet having a single substantially air-tight chamber, said chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port permitting, respectively, the entry and emission of the air current, a door in the cabinet providing access to the chamber, and deflecting means within said chamber for guiding arriving carriers to a point adjacent to said door and preventing inter ference by said carriers with the emission of the air current through the outlet port.

4. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a terminal comprising a substantially air-tight cabinet having a single chamber provided with an inlet port for the reception of the delivery tube and an outlet port permitting emission of the air current from the chamber, a normally closed door at one end of the chamber providing access thereto, the inlet port being disposed at the upper end of the chamber opposite the door, the outlet port being disposed at the bottom of the chamber adjacent to the end opposite the door, and deflecting means within the chamber for guiding arriving carriers to a position adjacent to the door and preventing interference with the emission of the air current through the outlet port.

.5. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a terminal comprising a substantially air-tight cabinet having a single chamber provided with an inlet port for the reception of the delivery tube and an outlet port permitting emission of the air current from said chamber, a normally closed door at one end of said chamber providing access thereto, said inlet port being disposed at the upper end of said chamber opposite said door, the outlet port being disposed at the lower end of said chamber opposite said door, and a perforated curved shield within the chamber with one end adjacent said inlet port and the other end engaging the bottom of said chamber, said shield being engageable by carriers entering the chamber and adapted to direct said carriers to a point adjacent said door.

6. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a delivery and dispatch terminal comprising a substantially air-tight cabinet having a single chamber provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for the reception of the delivery and dispatch tubes, respectively, and a door at one end of the chamber providing access thereto, said inlet port being disposed at the lower end of the chamber opposite the door and arranged to deliver carriers in an upward direction, said outlet port being disposed at the lower end of the chamber adjacent to the door, an upwardly extending curved shield with one end adjacent to said inlet port and the other end engaging the top of the chamber, and a guide pivotally secured at one end to the door and spanning the outlet port to prevent accidental dispatch of the carriers and interference with the emission of the air current through the outlet port.

7. In a pneumatic dispatch system having delivery and dispatch tubes of rectangular cross section and means for creating an air current in said tubes whereby carriers are transported, a delivery and dispatch terminal comprising a substantially air-tight cabinet having a single chamber provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for the reception of the delivery and dispatch tubes, respectively, and a door at one end of the chamber providing access thereto, said inlet port being disposed at the lower end of the chamber opposite the door and arranged to deliver carriers in an upward direction, said outlet port be- 100 ing disposed at the lower end of the chamber adjacent to the door, an upwardly extending curved shield with one end adjacent to the inlet port and the other end engaging the top of the charm ber, said shield adapted to deflect arriving car- 105 riers toward the door, and a curved guide pivotally depending from the door with its free end adjacent to the outlet port on the opposite side thereof from the door, said guide preventing accidental dispatch of arriving carriers and inter- 110 ference with the emission of the air current through the outlet port.

MERTON L. EMERSON. 

